QuestionI bought an orchid a couple weeks ago. It said on the label that it was a "just add ice orchid" and to only water with ice. I kept watering it with three ice cubes once a week as instructed. Now all four flowers have fallen off, the leaves are getting lighter and twisting everywhere. The very top of the stem even looks like a dark brown. Is my orchid dead? Is there anything I can do? There are also vines everywhere. Can I fix it?
AnswerKaitlyn, the "vines" are actually aerial roots. In nature, these orchids often grow with their roots exposed to the air-- hence the name aerial roots. You need to repot your plant in a commercial grade orchid potting mix which you should be able to find at a garden center that sells orchids such as Home Depot or Lowes. Several types of orchid potting mix are available, Choose the type of potting mix that contains some fir bark. Once you have a bag of fresh orchid potting mix, soak just enough for use in repotting your plant. You may soak it for up to an hour. The reasomn for the soaking is that fir bark, when dry, is water repellant. The, remove your plant from its pot and rinse the roots. You probably will find some roots that are mushy or stringy-- these must be removed as they are dead. insert the remaining roots (including aerial roots into the pot and add the wet, new potting mix. Tap the sides of the pot as you add the mix so its gets distributed amongst the roots. Set aside to drain before you place in its growing area. Do not water for a week and then water once weekly. You need to be sure that the pot you use has lots of drainage holes. Abandon the ice cube method. I have heard from many growers who have had problems with this method of watering.
Old flower spikes often will die back. You can try to cut the spike off just above a node (ie joint) in the flower spike after you have repotted it. After you do that, it may still die back all the way or it may send out a branch from the node. Whether a flower spike dies back or remains green is genetically determined.
